A review on assessment of advances in polymers and their hybrid nanosystem for leukaemia theranostics applications

Leukaemia, a widespread haematological cancer, possesses particular challenges in theranostics despite the availability of traditional and modern approaches. This article addresses a significant gap in the literature, where a focus on polymeric and hybrid nanoparticles (P&HNP) is lacking in advancing leukaemia therapy, and explores how to overcome limitations of conventional therapeutic approaches. The rationale of this study stems from several considerations, including the fact that while polymeric nanoparticles show promise in leukaemia theranostics, a comprehensive assessment of how biomaterial choices influence therapeutic efficacy remains lacking. This article briefly describes conventional challenges in leukaemia theranostics, followed by the properties of P&HNP that make them potential candidates for leukaemia management. In addition, an understanding of the distinctions between natural (e.g., chitosan) and synthetic polymers (e.g., polyethene glycol), as well as their capacity to integrate targeting ligands, imaging agents, and therapeutic payloads, is essential for the rational design of next-generation treatments. Indeed, hybrid nanosystems that combine polymers with metallic nanoparticles (e.g., Au, Ag, Fe, and Zn) represent an emerging frontier, as noted. Next, the current status and clinical outcomes of P&HNP-based formulations are presented, along with their limitations and solutions to advance them as advanced therapies. Finally, challenges or obstacles that limit the translation perspective of laboratory-designed nanomedicine were addressed. This review identifies promising directions, including innovative nanoparticle designs and combination therapies, that may transform leukaemia treatment paradigms and improve patient survival.